“Block-Type” Coils Fabrication Procedure for the Nb$_3$Sn Dipole Magnet FRESCA2

The Nb$_3$Sn FRESCA2 dipole magnet is dedicated to upgrade the CERN cable test facility FRESCA. It is also a technological demonstrator of large-aperture Nb$_3$Sn accelerator magnet. It has an aperture of 100 mm and a target bore magnetic field of 13 T. It is composed of four 1.5-m-long double-pancake “block-type” coils, manufactured following the wind, react and impregnation technique. It is developed by CEA and CERN in the framework of a collaboration agreement, in the continuity of the EuCARD program. Through the fabrication of two full-scale copper prototypes, the different steps of the coil fabrication process (winding, heat treatment, splicing, instrumentation, impregnation, and transport) and the corresponding tooling have been adjusted. The final winding and reaction procedure integrates the possibility to open longitudinal gaps in the winding table and in the central post, in order to accommodate partially the longitudinal contraction of the cable during reaction. This new feature has been experienced through full-scale tests using superconducting cable with a reduced number of turns. This paper reports on the fabrication procedure of these coils. The production phase of the superconducting magnets has started in June 2015.